When this book came across my desk, I thought, “Really?” I mean, who would write a book, let alone read a book, called Sweet Farts; Ripping it Old School? And this is a sequel to boot! That meant enough people liked the first one to warrant a second! Then I read the AP article that accompanied it. “Boys Trail Girls in Reading; Can Fart Jokes Help?” Statistically, boys trail girls in reading in all 50 states. The gender gap has widened to mammoth proportions—as much as 10% in some states, according to the Center on Education Policy. Author, Ray Sabini (penned as Raymond Bean), says “Reaching those reluctant boys, it’s a challenge I take very, very seriously and this is what they think is funny.” There’s also history in there. There’s science in there, the problem of bullying, but it’s the humor that gets their attention.”
Well, Sweet Farts; Ripping it Old School got my attention. It was an easy read. The story was humorous, touching at times, a bit gross (hey, isn’t that the point), and overall very clever. It tells the story of a 10-year old boy who imagines a pill that will take away the smell of farts, farts he is being blamed for in class. The crazy thing is, he and a team of scientists actually succeed. (This story is told in the first book, Sweet Farts.) Now, the pressure is on for Keith to come up with an encore invention for this year’s science fair; something as amazing as the Sweet Farts pills. He hits bumps along the way, including lack of confidence, parent/teacher/and peer pressure, friends who just don’t know when enough is enough, and a little sister who refuses to eat. The story is Keith’s journey to find the humor in things, allowing himself to fail, and picking up the pieces and moving forward.
Besides the bathroom humor, this book has some great messages embedded in the smelly tale. Even kids can come up with some pretty fabulous ideas. Who wouldn’t want liver that tasted like candy canes? Failure, while not fun, is an important stepping stone to success. It does stretch the whole big-brother, little-sister dynamic a bit. I can’t say as I have ever met a ten-year old really interested in his little sister’s well being. But hey, we can dream, right? Overall, Sweet Farts; Ripping it Old School comes up smelling like roses, or should I say bubble gum.
I’ve passed the book on to my friend’s nine year old reluctant reader. I suppose the true test will be his review. Stay tuned….
Ray Sabini is a fourth-grade teacher with a love for teaching reading and writing. Over ten years of teaching has taught him that kids love books that make them laugh, teachers love books that have worthwhile content, and farts can be very funny. For more information on Ray or his Sweet Farts series, visit http://www.raymondbean.com
Well, Sweet Farts; Ripping it Old School got my attention. It was an easy read. The story was humorous, touching at times, a bit gross (hey, isn’t that the point), and overall very clever. It tells the story of a 10-year old boy who imagines a pill that will take away the smell of farts, farts he is being blamed for in class. The crazy thing is, he and a team of scientists actually succeed. (This story is told in the first book, Sweet Farts.) Now, the pressure is on for Keith to come up with an encore invention for this year’s science fair; something as amazing as the Sweet Farts pills. He hits bumps along the way, including lack of confidence, parent/teacher/and peer pressure, friends who just don’t know when enough is enough, and a little sister who refuses to eat. The story is Keith’s journey to find the humor in things, allowing himself to fail, and picking up the pieces and moving forward.
Besides the bathroom humor, this book has some great messages embedded in the smelly tale. Even kids can come up with some pretty fabulous ideas. Who wouldn’t want liver that tasted like candy canes? Failure, while not fun, is an important stepping stone to success. It does stretch the whole big-brother, little-sister dynamic a bit. I can’t say as I have ever met a ten-year old really interested in his little sister’s well being. But hey, we can dream, right? Overall, Sweet Farts; Ripping it Old School comes up smelling like roses, or should I say bubble gum.
I’ve passed the book on to my friend’s nine year old reluctant reader. I suppose the true test will be his review. Stay tuned….
Ray Sabini is a fourth-grade teacher with a love for teaching reading and writing. Over ten years of teaching has taught him that kids love books that make them laugh, teachers love books that have worthwhile content, and farts can be very funny. For more information on Ray or his Sweet Farts series, visit http://www.raymondbean.com
